Volunteers prepare turkey feast at Central Baptist or those in need

Thursday

An army of about 100 volunteers will converge at Central Baptist Church this morning to prepare and serve enough turkey and all the trimmings for up to 10 times as many people this afternoon.

An army of about 100 volunteers will converge at Central Baptist Church this morning to prepare and serve enough turkey and all the trimmings for up to 10 times as many people this afternoon.

“It’s really a commitment from these volunteers to serve people who wouldn’t have much of a Thanksgiving otherwise,” said Philip Palsen, one of the coordinators of the church’s annual Feast of Plenty meal. “People really open their hearts and are willing to help.”

This year is the 24th for the event, which provides a traditional Thanksgiving meal at no cost to visitors at the church at Fourth and Jackson streets. Everyone is invited to attend, and volunteers deliver meals to those who are unable to get to the church.

Volunteers also can pick up people who need rides to the event, Palsen said.

The Feast of Plenty typically serves more than 700 people.

But kitchen coordinator Lana Benedict, who’s cooked for the meal for 22 years said this year, due to the economic crisis, volunteers are preparing enough food for 750 to 1,000 people.

Benedict, an avid cook, became involved in the feast after she started attending Judson Baptist Church in Chatham.

“Central Baptist was very involved in giving seed money to the group who started the Judson Baptist Church,” she said. “When a lady at Central asked me, ‘If I coordinate (the Feast of Plenty), would you come cook?’ I felt that’d be a good way to thank Central for what they did for Judson.”

Benedict is in charge of determining how much food to buy and preparing it. She purchased 200 pounds of turkey breast and bought enough ingredients for up to 28 pans of stuffing.

The Thanksgiving meal is funded by donations received through the church, Palsen said.

After shopping this week, Benedict and her volunteers will start cooking at 7 a.m. today. Most of the meal is cooked today, although members of Central Baptist already have made all of the pies for dessert.
Benedict said she expects about 350 take-out meals alone.

The meal will last from noon to 2 p.m. Delivery orders and requests for transportation can be made by calling Central Baptist at 523-3639.

After the meal, leftovers will be taken to a charity such as Helping Hands, Contact Ministries or The Salvation Army, she said.

Benedict also likes to send leftovers to her daughter, Melissa Dougherty, and her co-workers in the labor and delivery department at St. John’s Hospital who don’t get a chance to eat a Thanksgiving meal during their long shifts.

“Nothing’s going to waste,” Benedict said.

Each year, she says she’s overwhelmed by the generosity that goes into planning and serving the meal. She said she can’t imagine spending her Thanksgiving any other way.

“I feel I have a gift. A lot of people can’t cook for a large amount of people. I feel if I don’t use it, that’s a sin,” Benedict said.

Here is a list of some other local Thanksgiving meals and events:

*St. John’s Breadline, 430 N. Fifth St., will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today. Four paid staff members and roughly 20 volunteers will be on hand, said Kevin Kindred, supervisor in charge at St. John’s Breadline.

“We’re set for at least 600 people. If we have more, we’ll have enough food for those, too,” he said.

*A free Thanksgiving dinner will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe, 3141 Baker Drive. This is the ninth year that owner Ziyad Samara and his family have offered the meal.

“We want people to have happy holidays, and we also want to pay back people for their support,” said Samara, who has been in the Springfield restaurant business for 30 years.

He hopes to serve Thanksgiving dinner to 400 people, including the homeless, the needy, senior citizens, veterans and anyone else who has no place to go for a meal. The meal is dine-in only; no carryouts will be available. Reservations are not necessary.

Helping Samara dish out the homemade meal will be his wife, Souad, and their three children.

Sam Madonia, host of “AM Springfield” on WFMB 1450-AM, organizes the event, which will last from 6 to 9 a.m.

More than 1,000 people are expected to participate, brining nonperishable food and funds for St. Martin de Porres Center and new or gently worn coats for the children at Feitshans Academy.

The event will be held rain or shine at the pavilion just south of the Nelson Center.

Refreshments will be available.

*The Sangamon County Bar Association is hosting Thanksgiving Day hikes in Carpenter Park today. Participants typically arrive at 8:15 a.m., and the hikes begin about 9:30 a.m. One hike lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, while the second lasts an hour.

Coffee, hot chocolate, cider and doughnuts will be provided.

The hikes are open to anyone, including dogs.

Food editor Kathryn Rem contributed to this report. Amanda Reavy can be reached at 788-1525.

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